# GetFieldSelections - chart function
GetFieldSelections() returns a string with the current selections in a field.
If all but two, or all but one of the values are selected, the format 'NOT x,y' or 'NOT y' will be used respectively. If you select all values and the count of all values is greater than max\_values, the text ALL will be returned.
Syntax:
GetFieldSelections ( field\_name [, value\_sep [, max\_values [, state\_name]]])
Return data type: string
Return string formats
| Format | Description |
| --- | --- |
| 'a, b, c' | If the number of selected values is max\_values or less, the string returned is a list of
the selected values.
The values are separated with value\_sep as delimiter. |
| 'NOT a, b, c' | If the number of non-selected values is max\_values or less, the string returned is a list of the non-selected values with NOT as a prefix.
The values are separated with value\_sep as delimiter. |
| 'x of y' | x = the number of selected values
y = the total number of values
This is returned when max\_values < x < ( y - max\_values). |
| 'ALL' | Returned if all values are selected. |
| '-' | Returned if no value is selected. |
| <search string> | If you have selected using search, the search string is returned. |
Arguments
| Arguments | Description |
| --- | --- |
| field\_name | The field containing the range of data to be measured. |
| value\_sep | The separator to be put between field values. The default is ', '. |
| max\_values | The maximum number of field values to be individually listed. When a larger number of values is selected, the format 'x of y values' will be used instead. The default is 6. |
| state\_name | The name of an alternate state that has been chosen for the specific visualization. If the state\_name argument is used, only the selections associated with the specified state name are taken into account.
For more information, see [Using alternate states for comparative analysis](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Visualizations/alternate-states-comparative-analysis.htm). |
Example: Chart expressions
| Example | Result |
| --- | --- |
| `GetFieldSelections( FirstName )` | Returns '`-`' (NULL) if no selection has been made in the `FirstName` field. Otherwise, it returns the value of the selections, for example `John`. |
## Example - GetFieldSelections fundamentals
[](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getfieldselections.htm)
#### Chart expression
Overview
Open the Data load editor and add the load script below to a new section.
The load script contains:
* A dataset which is loaded into a data table called `Example`.
* The following fields in the data table:
* `FirstName`
* `LastName`
* `Initials`
* `HasCellphone`
Load script
```
Example:
LOAD * inline [
FirstName|LastName|Initials|HasCellphone
John|Anderson|JA|Yes
Sue|Brown|SB|Yes
Mark|Carr|MC|No
Peter|Devonshire|PD|No
Jane|Elliot|JE|Yes
Peter|Franc|PF|Yes ] (delimiter is '|');
```
Results
1. Load the data and open a sheet. Create a new filter pane and add this field as a dimension:
* `FirstName`
2. Create a KPI object and add the following measure:
* `=GetFieldSelections(FirstName)`, to return the values of the selection made in the `FirstName` field.
Tip noteIn this example the styling of the KPI has been adjusted to use a responsive layout behavior to make it easier to view the output. For more information about changing the chart layout behavior, see [Styling the KPI](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Visualizations/KPI/create-kpis.htm#Styling)
3. Click Edit sheet to switch to analysis mode, and do the following actions in the order that they appear in the table:
Actions and results in analysis mode
| Action | KPI results |
| --- | --- |
| Select `John` in the `FirstName` filter. | The measure returns the value: `John`. |
| Select `John` and `Peter` in the `FirstName` filter. | The measure returns the values: `John, Peter`. |
| Click Edit sheet to switch to edit mode, and then edit the KPI measure expression to the following: `=GetFieldSelections(FirstName,'; ')` | The measure returns the values with the new `value_sep` format: `John; Peter`. |
| Edit the KPI measure expression to the following: `=GetFieldSelections(FirstName,';', 2)` | The measure returns the values with the new `value_sep` format spacing: `John;Peter`. |
| Click Edit sheet to switch back to analysis mode. Clear the selections from the `FirstName` filter, and then select `John`, `Sue`, and `Mark`. | The measure returns `NOT Jane;Peter`, because the number of selections exceeds the `max_value` argument of `2`. If no `max_value` is set, all selected names will appear: `John; Sue; Mark`. |
The following image shows the results of the last action in the table where the number of selections exceeds the `max_values` argument.
KPI results when selecting the first names John, Sue, and Mark
KPI results when selecting the first names John, Sue, and Mark
KPI results when selecting the first names John, Sue,John, Sue, and MarkMark 
In this example you can see how the values returned by the `GetFieldSelections` function change as selections are made.
## Example - GetFieldSelections scenario
[](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/ChartFunctions/FieldFunctions/getfieldselections.htm)
#### Chart expression
Overview
The `GetFieldSelections` function is used to highlight customer names as they are selected.
Open the Data load editor and add the load script below to a new section.
The load script contains:
* A dataset which is loaded into a data table called `Example`.
* The following fields in the data table:
* `OrderID`
* `CustomerName`
* `Product`
* `Quantity`
Load script
```
Example:
LOAD * INLINE [
OrderID, CustomerName, Product, Quantity
1, John Doe, Laptop, 2
2, Jane Smith, Smartphone, 1
3, Ahmed Khan, Desk, 3
4, Maria Garcia, Chair, 1
5, Li Wei, Blender, 2
];
```
Results
1. Load the data and open a sheet. Create a new filter pane and add these fields as dimensions:
* `CustomerName`
* `Product`
2. Create a KPI object and add the following measure:
* `=GetFieldSelections(CustomerName)`.
Tip noteIn this example the styling of the KPI has been adjusted to use a responsive layout behavior to make it easier to view the output. For more information about changing the chart layout behavior, see [Styling the KPI](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/cloud-services/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Visualizations/KPI/create-kpis.htm#Styling).
3. Click Edit sheet to switch to analysis mode, and then select `Jane Smith` and `John Doe` from the `CustomerName` filter.
The `GetFieldSelections` function returns the values: `Jane Smith, John Doe`.
You can see the customers selected in the filter pane in the KPI.